Highway marker



Dec. 1 5, 1936 w. B. THOMPSON HIGHWAY MARKER Filed Ju ly,2l,-l93l 2Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 15, 1936. w. B. THOMPSON HI GHWAY MARKER Filed'Ju'ly21, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 15, 1936 UNITED STATES HIGHWAYMARKER Wayne B. Thompson, Winchester, Masa, assignor to SprayEngineering Company, Somerville, Mass., a corporation of MassachusettsApplication July 21, 1931, Serial No. 552,178

9 Claims. (01. 91-45) The present invention relates to marking deviceswhich are caused to travel over a highway and mark a traflic linethereon.

The principal object of the present invention is 5 to produce a markerwith which the highway may be provided, either continuously orintermittently, with a traflic line or stripe having a predeterminedwidth, sharply defined edges and a smooth, even surface.

10 To the accomplishment of this object, and such others as may appearhereinafter, the various features of the present invention reside incertain constructions and arrangements of parts hereinafter describedand-then set forth in the 15 appended claims which possess advantagesreadily apparent to those skilled in the art.

The various features of the present invention will be understood readilyfrom an inspection of the accompanying drawings illustrating the best 20form of the invention at present devised, in

g which,

Figure 1 is a view in right side elevation of the highway marker;

Fig. 2 is a view in plan;

25 Fig. 3 is a view in rear elevation, the handles being in section; I

Fig. 4 is a detail view in sectional elevation of one of the wheel anddisk units together with the supporting structure therefor;

30 Fig. 5 is a detail view in right side elevation, partly in section,showing the mounting for the spray gun, one of the disks, and thescraper, spoon and pan associated therewith;

Fig. 6 is a detail view in plan of a slip sleeve 35 for one of the wheeldisk unit axles, and

Fig. 7 is a detail view in sectional elevation on the line 1-4, Fig. 3.

vIn the illustrated embodiment of the invention the traflic line ismarked on the highway by i) a spray gun I (Fig. 5), the spray from whichis confined to a stripe 8 (Fig. 2) of predetermined width by shieldscomprising two disks 9 and I (Fig. 3). The spray gun, as indicated inFig. 5,

, is one of the Spracc type disclosed in my Patent No. 1,706,006, March19, 1929. The disk 9 (Fig. 4) is secured to the reduced squared end of astub shaft or axle I I which is journaled in a slip sleeve l2. One endof the sleeve I2 engages a collar l3 secured to the reduced portion ofthe 60 axle. The other end of the sleeve l2 engages the disk 9. The disk9 is secured in position on the axle and in engagement with the sleeveI2 by a cap screw I4 .threaded into one end of the axle, there being awasher l interposed between the 3 disk 3 and the head of the cap screw.With this construction the disk 9 rotates with the axle II. The reducedportion of the axle II is provided with a second collar l6. As shown inFig. 4, shoulders on the collars l3 and i6 support a rubber tired wheelI! which is held in position by a '5 nut l8 threaded onto one end of theaxle II.

The other disk I0 is associated with a rubber tired wire wheel l9 (Fig.3). The disk i0 rotates with the axle upon which the wheel I9 is mountedin a manner similar to the disk 0. The axle for 10 the wheel I9 isrotatably mounted in a slip sleeve 20 (Fig. 3) similar to the sleevei2.- As shown in Figs. 3 and 5 the disks 9 and I0 are smaller indiameter than their associated wheels I! and I9. With this constructionthe disks clear the highway and permit the marking of crowned portionsthereof.

The sleeves l2 and are mounted, respectively, in bearings 2| and 22(Fig. 3) which are secured by bolts 23 (Fig. 4) to the side frames 20 24(Fig. 2). The side frames 24 are connected by a plate 25 (Fig. 2) whichhas the additional function of counterbalancing the weight at the rearend of the highway marker. At their front endsthe side frames 24 supporta horizontal rod 5 26 (Figs. 1 and 2) the opposite ends of which formbearings for the rubber tired wheels 21. Pivoted to the rod 26 is a yokeframe 28 the free ends of which support rotatably a small roll '29mounted to roll over the highway and indicate the loca- 30 tion of thecenter line of the stripe.

As shown in Fig. 3, the bearings 2| and 22 support the feet of a bridge30. Secured to the sides of the bridge 30 are two rods 3| the upper endsof which carry ahead 32 provided with a vertical hollow boss 33. Mountedin the boss 33 is the stem of a clamp 34 receiving a yoke 35 provided atits free ends with rotatable sleeves 36 and 31 covered, respectively,with rubber grips 38 and 33. 40

The spray gun I is mounted centrally between the disks 9 and ID with itsdischarge orifice directed downwardly. To this end the handle of thespray gun is positioned in a recess 40 (Figs. 3 and 5) formed on oneface of acasting 4| ,the upper end of which is secured by a pairfof capscrews 42 to an arm 43. At its upper end the arm 43 is split to embracea rod 44 dependingfifrom the bridge 30. The arm 43 may be secured in anydesired position of adjustment on the rod 44 by a bolt 45 passed throughthe split portion of the arm 43. The handle of the spray gun is clampedin the recess 40 by a plate 46 secured to the casting 4|.

The spray gun receives its coating material through a flexible conduit41 (Fig. 5) which conducts the coating material from a tank (not shown)on a truck travelling at a slow pace on the highway. The truck carriesalso a supply of compressed air which is connected through a flexibleconduit 48 (Fig. 3) to a T 49 supported by ashort pipe 50 carried by thehead 32. The T 49 is connected by a flexible conduit 5| to the handle-ofthe spray gun.

As well known to those skilled in this art, the flow of the compressedair and coating material through the spray gun is controlled by valves(not shown) operatively connected to a trigger 52 (Fig. 5) on the spraygun. In order to operate the trigger it is engaged by a small roll 53 onone arm of a bell-crank lever 54 pivotally mounted on a horizontal pin55 carried by the casting 4|. The bell-crank lever 54 is provided alsowith a small roll 56 which engages one end of a piston 51 mounted toslide in a cylinder 58 on the casting 4 The interior of the cylinder 58receives compressed air from a flexible conduit 59 (Figs. 3 and 5)connected to a three-way valve 68 secured to the bottom of the pipe 58.The three-way valve is constructed to control the passage of air fromthe pipe 58 into the flexible conduit 59. When the three-way valve is inone position the compressed air enters the cylinder 58 and moves thepiston 51 outwardly to operate the trigger in a direction to openthe'coating material and compressed air valves in the spray gun.

In order to limit the movement of the trigger 52 under the influence ofthe piston the bellcrank lever 54 is provided with an offset tail 6|(Figs. 3 and 5) arranged to engage one end of a screw 62 adjustablysecured on a lug formed on one side of the casting 4|. In order that thethree-way'valve 60 may be controlled by the operative the stem 83 of thevalve is squared (Fig. 3) to receive one end of a wrench 64. The otherend of the wrench 64 is connected by a rod to an arm 86 integral withthe right hand rotatable sleeve 36 (Fig. 3). When the three-way valve 88is closed a pin 61 on one side of the stem 83 engages a shoulder 68 onthe valve body. When the operative rotates the sleeve 36 in a clockwisedirection, viewing Fig. 3, the three-way valve is opened and air isadmitted through the conduit 59 to the cylinder 58 to operate thetrigger 52 and the valves of the spray gun. The opening move ment of thevalve is limited by a shoulder 89 as:- ranged on the valve body in aposition to be engaged by the pin 61. When the sleeve 36 is rotatedthereafter in a counter-clockwise direction the three-way valve isclosed and the air in the conduit 59 is vented through a vent 18 (Fig.1), thus permitting the usual valve closing springs in the spray gun toreturn the trigger 52 and the piston 51 to their normal inoperativepositions.

In order to vary the width of the spray defined by the disks 9 and Hithe sleeves l2 and 28 therefor are adjustable towards and from eachother in the bearings 2| and 22, respectively. To this end the bearingsare split so that by releasing cap screws H (Fig. 2) therein theembraced sleeves l2 and 28 may be slid in the hearings towards and fromeach other. As shown in Figs. 3 and 6 the sleeves |2 and 28 are providedwith a series of peripheral grooves 12 marked, respectively, 4, 5, 6, '7and 8. These marks indicate the number of inches separating the disks 9and I8 and consequently the width to be given the stripe. As shown inFig. 3 the sleeves l2 and 28, are adjusted in their bearings to registerthe six inch scores with the inside faces of the bearings. Thus, thedisks 9 and ID are separated a distance sufficient to define a stripe 6inches wide on the highway. The height of the discharge orifice of thespray gun above the highway may be correlated with the distanceseparating the disks 9 and H) by raising and lowering the arm 43 on therod 44. Experience has demonstrated that, with the Spraco spray gun I,the height of the discharge orifice above the highway should becommensurate substantially with the width of the stripe. That is, thevertical distance from the highway to, the discharge orifice of thespray gun should be substantially the same as the horizontal distancebetween the disks 9 and In. It will be understood by those skilled inthis art, however, that this vertical distance may vary depending uponthe coating material or the type of spray gun or nozzle used.

In order to maintain the peripheries and inside faces of the disks 9 andI0 free from accumulations of marking material which may splash thereon,the highway marker is provided with scrapers which scrape the disksduring their rotation and with spoons which receive the scraped materialfrom the scrapers and deposit it centrally upon the stripe formed on thehighway. To this end the side frames 24 are provided with U- shapedbolts 13 (Figs. 2, 3 and 5) which clamp a horizontal rod 14. Looselymounted on the rod 14 are two collars 15 and I8 one of which isassociated with the disk 9 and the other one of which is associated withthe disk It]. As the construction and mode of operation of the collarsand the parts supported thereby are identical the description thereofwill be restricted to the scraper and spoon construction associated withthe disk I!) (Fig. 5).

The collar I5 supports an arm 11 (Fig. 5) having an offset upstandingend 18. Clamped to the offset end 18 is a scraper unit comprising awiper l9 clamped between two holder plates 88. The wiper is arranged atan inclination with one edge face engaged with the inside face of thedisk H). The marking material scraped oii the disk ID by the wiper 19drops upon a spoon 8| secured to the bottom of the arm 11. The upperface of the spoon 8| is dished to form a trough for the collectedcoating material. The free end of the spoon 8| toes inward (Fig. 3) sothat the collected coating mat rial may be discharged towards the centerof he stripe.

The peripheral edge of the disk I 0 is scraped by a piece of leather 82(Figs. 3, 5 and 7) which is interposed between one edge face of thespoon 8| and a plate 83. The plate 83 is held in position by two screws84 which engage the plate 83, pass through the leather block 82, and arethreaded into the adjacent face of the spoon 8|. The leather block 82scrapes the peripheral edge of the disk i0 clean, the scrapings fallingalso into the spoon 8|. As indicated in Figs. 5 and '7 the effectiveleading edge 85 of the leather block 82 is arranged in the same plane asthe wiper 19 thus to insure that the scrapings from the block and wiperwill fall into the spoon 8|.

The scrapers l9 and 82 are held in the position shown in Fig. 5 by aspring 86 coiled about the rod 14. One end of the spring 86 is securedto a collar 81 (Fig. 3) secured to the rod 14. The other end of thespring 86 is hooked on one face of the arm 11 (Figs. 4 and 5). The loosecollar 15 is backed up by a collar 88 secured to the rod 14. Byloosening the collars 81 and 88 the wipers I9 and 82 may follow thelateral adjustment of the disks.

It is often desirable to form a broken traflic line on the highway butheretofore this could not be done with a travelling marker, either ofthe spray gun or brush type. In order to form a broken traflic line thethree-way valve 68 is closed by manipulating the sleeve or handle 36thus stopping the discharge of spray from the spray gun. Shortly beforestopping the operation of the spray gun a catch-pan 89 (Figs. 3 and 5)is swung under the discharge ends of the spoons 8| to receive thescraped marking material therefrom. The pan 89 is provided with a bottomdished in the direction of its width to form a trough in which thecoating material discharged by the spoons may accumulate without dangerof spilling upon the highway. Centrally the pan 89 is provided with aspillway 98, but this spillway is formed above the trough so that thecontents thereof may not pass through the spillway while the panoccupies the position shown in full lines in Fig. 5.

One end of the pan 89 is secured to the lower end of a lever 9| pivotedat 92 on the left-side frame 24, viewing Fig. 2. The upper end of thelever 9| is pivoted to the lower end of a rod 93 (Fig. 3) the upper endof which is pivoted to an arm 94 projecting laterally from the sleeve31. The other end of the pan 89 is secured to the lower end of an arm 95(Fig. 3) pivoted at 96 on the right side frame 24. The pivots 92 and 96are arranged in the same horizontal and vertical planes.

Under normal operating conditions the pan 89 is swung back into theconstruction line position of Fig. 5 while the highway is being markedwith the stripe 8. About three feet before the point is reached wherethe spray is to be shut off and thus end the mark on the highway, thepan 89 is swung into the full-line position of Fig. 5.in which positionit is left while traversing a gap in a.

broken line or while the highway marker is not in operation. If it, isintended to form a gap in the line the valves in the spray gun arereopened to restart the spray after the proper interval, but the pan 89is left in its down position until a new stripe 8 substantially threefeet in length is formed when the pan 89 is swung into the constructionline of Fig. 5. When the pan 89 containing the accumulation of scrapingsfrom the spoons 8| is moved into the construction line position of Fig.5, the scrapings flow out of the spillway 98 upon the center portion ofthe stripe. Bymoving the pan 89 into its down position before the end ofthe line is reached and by moving it into its up positionafter the newline is started the excess paint from the faces and peripheral edges ofthe disks is prevented from dripping on any unmarked portion of thehighway.

In the event a traflic line on the highway is to be remarked a gage 91is registered with one edge of the old stripe in the manner indicated inFig. 2. The gage 91 is adjustably mounted on a plate 98 carried by theframe 28.

'By mounting the wheels l6 and IS on separate axles, respectively, theoperative may tip the highway marker backwardly to elevate the wheels 21from the highway and turn the highway marker on one of the wheels I6 andI9 as an axis to cause the spray gun to spray along a curved line. Inturning the highway marker to follow a curved line the wheel and disk onone side are free to rotate forwardly while, it may be, the wheel anddisk on the other side are free to rotate backwardly.

The handles 38 and 39 are grasped as the operative pushes the highwaymarker along the highway permitting the operative at the same time tocontrol the admission of air into and out of the cylinder 58, theraising and lowering of the catch pan 89, the tipping of the highwaymarker, and its turning on one of the wheels as a pivot.

It will be clear to those skilled in the art, and with the generalobjects of the present invention in view, that changes may be made inthe details ment thereof being intended as an exploitation of theunderlying essentials of the invention, the features of which aredefinitely stated in their true scope in the claims presented herewith.

What is claimed as new, is:

1. In a highway marker, the combination with a carriage having fourwheels the rear ones of which are mounted upon independent slidablymovable axles, and a spray gun mounted on the carriage to dischargemarking material towards the highway, of shields mounted on said axles,respectively, for confining the application of the marking material onthe highway to a stripe of 'of structure, the described and illustratedembodihighway to a stripe of predetermined width,

means for removing excess marking material from the inside faces andperipheral edges of the disks, and means for catching and storing theexcess marking material removed from the disks, of means for dumping thestored marking material upon the stripe.

4. In a highway marker, the combination wit a rotatable disk, a scraperfor removing excess marking material from one face of the disk and aspoon for conducting the excess marking material removed from the diskto a point on the highway spaced from the said face of the disk, of apan movable to a position beneath the spoon to receive therefrom saidexcess material.

5. In a highway marker, the combination with a rotatable disk, scrapersfor removing excess marking material from one face of the disk and theperipheral edge of the disk, and a spoon for conducting the excessmarking material removed from the disk to a point on the highway spacedfrom said face of the disk, of a pan movable to a position beneath thespoon to receive therefrom said excess material.

6. A highway marker having, in combination,

a disk, a wiper for scraping one face of the disk,

a spoon for catching the scrapings and conducting them to a point remotefrom the scraped face of the disk, a wiper carried by the spoon forscraping the peripheral edge of the disk, an arm supporting the firstnamed wiper and the spoon, a rod upon which the arm is loosely mountedand a coiled spring having one end engaged with the arm and the otherend supported from the rod for pressing the wipers against the insideface and the peripheral edge of the disk, respectively. Y p

7. In a highway marker, the combination with a wheeled carriage, a spraygun mounted thereon for discharging marking material towards thehighway, shields for confining the application of marking material onthe highway to a stripe of predetermined width, means for removingexcess material from the shields and dumping it upon the stripe, a panmovable into a. position to receive the removed excess material,rotatable handles carried by the carriage engaged by the operative inwheeling the carriage overthe highway, and means controlled by therotation of the handles for controlling the operation of the spray gunand the pan.

8. In a highway marker, the combination with a spray gun for dischargingmarking material towards the highway, rotatable disks for confining theapplication of the marking material on the highway to a stripe ofpredetermined width,

means for removing excess marking material from the disks, and means forcatching and storing the excess marking material removed from the disks,of means for dumping the stored marking material upon the stripe at apoint spaced from the edges of the stripe.

9. In a highway marker, the combination with a spray gun for dischargingmarking material-

